Evaporator



F. G. SLAGEL Oct. 10, 1933.

EVAPORATOR Filed Oct. 1, 1930 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EVAPORATOR Application October 1, 1930. Serial No. 485,737

5Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to evaporators.

.An object of the invention is to provide an evaporator for refrigerating apparatus especially adapted for commercial installations which is composed of coils and fins associated in a novel manner so that it is compact, rigid and eflicient.

Another object of the invention is to provide an evaporator organization in which a plurality of parallel tubes are retained in a desired relation by a novel form of spacing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an evaporator in which sheet metal fins are reinforced around openings therein through which coils extend so that a strong joint results at the junction.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, which forms a part of the specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an evaporator incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the tubes and the immediate portion of a fin.

Fig. 5 is another fragmentary sectional view of a fin and its associated tube.

Referring now to the drawing by characters of reference, 10 represents generally a coil into which the refrigerant in a mechanical refrigerating system is introduced, and which with associated elements forms an evaporator. The coil is formed of a plurality of parallel arranged tubes 11, preferably formed of copper, joined at the ends by detachable bent tube sections 12, such junctions being sealed in any conventional manner. As shown the junctions are in the form of detachable couplings. One of the tubes has a coupling 13 secured thereto which serves as the connection with an expansion valve (not shown), while another tube is provided with a union 14 for the .attachment of a refrigerant return conduit (not shown). The evaporator illustrated is of the dry type, however it is equally useful as a flooded type of device.

A plurality of similarly complementary sheet metal plates 15 extend transversely of the tubes 11 and form fins which materially increase the heat transfer surface of the coil. The fins are preferably formed with openings 16 so that they can be moved endwise of the tubes 11 when the tube sections 12 are removed. In order to reinforce the fins around the openings through which the tubes 11 extend, I provide eyelets 17,

preferably formed of copper, which can be readily assembled with the plates. The eyelets are preferably associated only with the end fins, however they can be employed with all of the fins if desired. The eyelets can be readily associated with the fins, and they are assembled with one flange extending axially, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, which fiange is later bent up parallel with the other flange and tightly engaging the fin. As indicated by the numeral 18, the eyelets are peened to the tube and solder is applied to assist in securing the eyelets to the tube portion adjacent thereto. This man ner of securing the eyelets to the plates and their securement to the tubes provide an intimate thermal contact which can not be easily broken as can a joint directly between the fins and the tubes.

.In order to secure the fins and tubes into a rigid unit, I provide a skeleton frame which also protects the corners of the fins. To this end the frame consists of side angle irons 20 and end angle irons 21 which are secured at their ends by the corner brackets 22, by rivets or welding as indicated at 23. Such frame extends around the corners of the fin structure, and a plurality of tie bolts 24 are secured to the frame and engage the tube sections 11 to space the coil relative to the frame. In addition, I provide a plurality of spacer plates 25 5 which extend across the top and bottom of the tubes in a transverse relation. The spacer plates are formed with a plurality of slots 26 which extend so that they will receive tubes when moved in a vertical plane relative to the coil. The spacers definitely associate the coil tube with the frame, and'while any number of the spacers can be used with each coil, I arrange a pair of them between the two end fins and another pair centrally of the coil. As the spacers are applied to the tubes before the frame is secured in position they can not become displaced in the unit assembly.

The structure described can be readily assembled and forms an efficient heat transfer unit 190 which is compact and rugged.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications which will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended-claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an evaporator, a plurality of connected parallel tubes forming a coil, polygonal fins associated transversely of the tubes, a rigid frame enclosing the corners of the fins, and a plurality of sheet metal spacer plates engaging the tubes in planes transversely thereof.

2. In an evaporator, a plurality of tubes arranged in a horizontal plane, a tube section connecting the parallel tubes for forming a coil, polygonal fins associated transversely of the tubes and extending in vertical planes with respect to the tubes, a rigid frame enclosing the corners of the fins, and a plurality of spacer plates engaging the tubes in planes transversely thereof.

3. In an evaporator, a plurality of parallel pairs of tubes, the tubes of each pair being parallel to each other, all of said tubes being horizontally disposed, means connecting said tubes in series to form a coil, polygonal fins associated transversely of the tubes in planes perpendicular thereto, and a rigid frame enclosing the corners of the fins.

4. In an evaporator, a plurality of parallel pairs of tubes, the tubes of each pair being parallel to each other, all of said tubes being horizontally disposed, means connecting said tubes in series to form a coil, polygonal fins associated transversely of the tubes in planes perpendicular thereto, a rigid frame enclosing the corners of the fins, and a plurality of spacer plates engaging the tubes in planes transversely thereof.

5. In an evaporator, a plurality of vertically disposed parallel fins each provided with a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures of adjacent fins being horizontally aligned, reinforcing means on each fin surrounding the wall thereof, adjacent each aperture, tubes each extending through a group of aligned apertures of the fins, means securing said reinforcing means to the tubes, and means connecting the tubes in series to form a coil.

FRANKLlN G. SLAGEL. 

